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It's time for college and for memories and dreams
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Published: August 17, 2008
We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams.
Jeremy Irons
It's that time of the year when college students are preparing to return to school, and others are getting ready for their first year. Summertime is about to come to an end. It's an exciting time, as a new world awaits incoming freshmen. It's a time for them to make new friends, experience the freedom to grow into their potential and get comfortable in their home away from home. That's what we hope for. It is also a time for families to make adjustments, as they prepare for the transition and hold on to special memories.
It has been a long time since I walked across the stage, received my high-school diploma, packed my bags and headed off to Livingstone College in Salisbury, yet it seems like yesterday. I remember the first two weeks of football practice, before students returned; it was hot and hard. I was ready to come home, but stuck it out. I worked in a tobacco factory the summer between my freshman and sophomore years; the last summer I came home. That hard labor helped me focus on what I wanted to do. Football practice was not so difficult after that experience. My wife remembers the excitement of leaving home and looking forward to studying, the freedom and new responsibility of being on her own and --coming from a family of nine -- having one person to share a room with. My, my, my, how time flies.
A few weeks ago, Chris, the grandson of a friend, stopped by on a sales call. Selling cutlery was one of his summer jobs. A rising sophomore at Howard University in Washington, he has really matured into a fine young man. It seems like yesterday that he was in middle school. Watching him in action was a wonderful experience. After his presentation we talked about his first year at Howard, how exciting it was and how he was ready to go back. It was a refreshing conversation that my wife and I truly enjoyed. I remember those days.
A young woman I spoke to, a student at Appalachian State University, worked three jobs this summer and is looking forward to returning for her junior year and another exciting football season. I had the opportunity to talk to two young men on their way to Livingstone, my alma mater. Both are excited about the opportunities in front of them. Bryan, like me years ago, is playing football. By now, he should be on the football practice field making his way as a freshman defensive back. And Steven stopped by my office to talk about what to expect his first year, how to navigate his way around, considering a fraternity to join and focusing on his grades.
My "time machine" was working overtime after those conversations when I came across a column I wrote almost five years ago about an incident involving the daughter of a friend, Rita Brown. Ebone' should be enjoying her first week at St. Augustine College in Raleigh. Just yesterday, she was on her way to Mount Tabor High School, attending ninth-grade orientation. Then, overnight it seems, she was a senior, helping others get acclimated to high school.
On a Sunday morning in December 2003, Ebone' had the task of praying during the morning worship service. "I overheard a prayer on its way to heaven during our morning church service on Sunday," I wrote at the time. She prayed a wonderful prayer, too, one that was full of thanks. According to her mother, she had to be persuaded to pray that morning by being reminded that her prayers had "great results!"
"Thank you for that," Rita said, responding to the note I e-mailed her about Ebone'. "She was in the 8th grade at the time." In the blink of an eye, she is a young woman now. Rita had saved the column, and reading it again, she said, brought tears to her eyes and many, many memories to the forefront of her mind. She was moved that Sunday morning and very proud of her daughter, as I know she is now, as Ebone' takes another step in her journey.
Ebone' has now completed another freshman orientation and participated in an official "handing over" service. She should be shopping for a few more needed supplies for the days ahead.
It is an exciting time for students, parents and their families. There are so many memories to recall and dreams to fulfill.
■ Nigel Alston is a Dale Carnegie trainer and motivational speaker. He can be reached at nalston1@triad.rr.com.
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